Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids (2024)

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Make Playdough Ice Cream with our easy 2 ingredient recipe and let kids play. Set up an ice cream shop for added fun and pretend…

by Katie

Make Playdough Ice Cream with our easy 2 ingredient recipe and let kids play. Set up an ice cream shop for added fun and pretend play!

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We combined two ingredients from our pantry and came up with a wonderful recipe that smells and even tastes good (although it’s not made for eating, it won’t hurt if you try a little). It is so fun to squeeze, shape, and if you flatten it out and then fold it into a ball it looks like ice cream! Cool!

This week it’s all things Ice Cream starting with our recipe for Playdough Ice Cream. I know there are a lot of recipes floating around, but we needed one that is taste safe for my little toddler. Include some more Ice Cream themed activities for extra fun including this adorable Ice Cream handprint Craft, learn with I is for Ice Cream free printable activities, play with an Ice Cream Sensory Bin, and make Ice Cream in a Bag with this yummy recipe.

Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids (1)

Is Ice Cream Playdough Safe to Eat?

Yes, and no. All the ingredients come from the kitchen and can be eaten–so it is TASTE SAFE. In fact, the ice cream playdough smells so good that we all took a little nibble, and it tastes sweet instead of salty like most homemade playdough recipes. However, raw flour and playdough can harbor bacteria, so it is probably best practice to teach children not to eat playdough. (Not to mention it is full of sugar.)

If you have a kiddo like mine, who likes to eat everything, you can take extra measures to sanitize the flour before making your playdough recipe.

How to Sanitize Flour by Microwaving it:

Microwave flour in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until it reaches 160°F. Let it cool, and then continue with the recipe.

Be aware of food allergies, and make recipe adjustments as needed.

Playdough Ice Cream Shop Pretend Play

Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids (2)

SUGGESTED ICE CREAM BOOKS & ACTIVITIES:

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Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids (3)
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Playdough Ice Cream Shop Pretend Play

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Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids (6)

Ingredients:

  • One can of frosting-We used Pillsbury Pink Lemonade flavor and it smelled divine!
  • 1 1/4 C. flour
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • 1 batch should be plenty for 2 kids

Directions:

1. Stir frosting and flour together, then knead until forms a dough. If it is sticky add a little flour until it no longer sticks to your hand. If it is stiff, add a couple of drops of water until it reaches the right consistency.

Doesn’t it look like ice cream?

I gathered cups, ice cream cones, sprinkles, cookie cutters, and toothpicks, and let the kiddos play and use their imagination.

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LittleTiger was busy making darling little ice cream play dough cups that looked good enough to eat.

Little Dragonloved poking things into the Play Dough Ice Cream and decorating his treats.

Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids (10)

He couldn’t resist trying a few bites of our sweet smelling play dough, the nice thing is I didn’t have to freak out on him or dig in his mouth. The less interrupting of playtime that I have to do is best.

How to Store Ice Cream Playdough

Ice cream playdough can be stored in an air-tight container for weeks. You can wrap it with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out. I used the frosting containers to store ours in.

Add to the Fun: Ice Cream Activities

  • Ice Cream in a Bag
  • Ice Cream Handprint Craft

(Updated: 7/15/2022, Originally posted: June 30, 2014)

  1. Best idea I've seen all summer….thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    1. Hi Karen thanks for visiting and wow what a compliment. Thanks so much!

      Reply

  2. Congratulations! This post is going to be featured over at Diana Rambles tomorrow and has been pinned in the Featured at Diana Rambles board at Pinterest, Tweeted, and Recommended on G+. Please grab a featured button off my sidebar or via the link under the features. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!

    Reply

    1. Hi Diana,
      I appreciate the time you put into sharing our idea in your features! I hope you visit again. Have a great weekend!

      Reply

  3. I couldn't find the pink lemonade frosting, so tried the neon yellow funfetti variety. The best part was the sprinkles were included. We added just over 1.5 cups of flour for the best consistency.

    Reply

    1. Hi Brook, thanks for sharing and posting the measurements you used for others to see. I never thought about the frosting that comes with the sprinkles… what a great idea!

      Reply

  4. I cannot wait to try this!!

    Reply

  5. I love this recipe for play dough! I didn't know you could use frosting and flour!!

    Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!

    Reply

    1. Hi Jill, isn't this recipe fun and so easy…thanks so much for visiting and the invite. I will be sure to stop by next week too! Have a fun week!

      Reply

  6. AWESOME!!

    Reply

    1. Hi Kate, I am glad you think so! Thanks for stopping by 🙂

      Reply

  7. This looks so yummy – LOL! Love everything about it 🙂

    Reply

    1. Hi Amanda,
      Thanks for visiting and the lovely comment. This frosting is so good that even after adding flour to it, it still tastes good too! LOL 🙂

      Reply

  8. Just found your blog from the Click and Chat link up! Excited to be following along via Bloglovin! 

    Reply

    1. Hi Whitney,
      Thanks for following, I just visited your blog and it's adorable! I joined you on Bloglovin and can't wait to see your next post! 🙂

      Reply

  9. Fantastic idea! I love the idea of the frosting!

    Reply

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Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids (11)

Welcome,

I'm Katie, a mom with 3 cuties sharing ACTIVITIES, crafts, recipes, & printables for you to enjoy at Home or School with millions of visitors like you. So glad your here!

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Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids (2024)

FAQs

Playdough Ice Cream Recipe and Pretend Play for Kids? ›

Recipe for Ice Cream Play Dough: Mix (dollar store) hair conditioner with corn starch until it reaches an ice cream like consistency! It's really that simple! Mix in the food coloring and "serve" as you play!

What are the ingredients in playdough ice cream? ›

NONFAT MILK, CREAM, BUTTERMILK, SUGAR, COLORED COOKIE DOUGH [UNENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR, SUGAR, PALM OIL, BROWN SUGAR, WATER, POWDERED SUGAR (SUGAR, CORN STARCH), SOY LECITHIN (EMULSIFIER), SALT, BAKING SODA, BLUE 1 LAKE (COLOR), RED 3 (COLOR), NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR], CORN SYRUP, WHEY, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL ...

What do children learn when playing with playdough? ›

Play dough provides a sensory experience that helps to develop fine motor skills, ease tension and improve imagination, aiding early childhood development in a playful way. Playing with play dough is a very kinaesthetic activity that is good for the muscles, joints and bones in your child's arms and hands.

What are the 4 ingredients in homemade playdough? ›

1-cup salt 4 cups flour 1 ½ cups water 4tbs. oil Mix flour and salt. Add water and oil slowly to the dry ingredients, stirring with a spoon until well blended. Knead dough until soft and pliable.

How to make ice cream playdough? ›

Combine 1 cup frosting (we used strawberry) and 2 cups powdered sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Stir frosting and powdered sugar together, slowly adding more powdered sugar (up to 3 cups total).

How to make ice cream play dough? ›

'Ice Cream Play Dough'.
  1. 1 1/2 cups of cornflour.
  2. 3/4 cup of hair conditioner (I used the cheapest Tesco had to offer)
  3. a few drops of food colouring.
  4. flavouring (either real or essence)
May 11, 2014

What is the best homemade playdough recipe? ›

how to make the world's best homemade play-doh. You'll need 3 cups of white all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons cream of tartar, 1 cup + 2 tablespoons of table salt, 3-4 tablespoons of any cooking oil (start with 3 and add more if necessary), 3 cups HOT water, and food coloring.

How do you make playdough Fluffy? ›

Fluffy Playdough
  1. 1 cup cheap hair conditioner.
  2. 2 cups cornflour.
  3. Food colouring and essential oil (optional)

What questions should I ask my child while playing with playdough? ›

Encourage mathematical thinking by asking, "What shape is that?” “Which snake is longer?” or “How many pieces do you have now?” These play experiences encourage children to practice counting, learn about shapes (geometry) and how they relate to each other (spatial sense), and practice sorting and classifying.

What skill is playing with playdough? ›

Fine motor skill development

Children are also learning hand-eye coordination as they use their hands to shape play dough. Each different way children shape play dough—pushing, pulling, squashing, squeezing, rolling, chopping, cutting—builds fine motor development in a different way.

Why is playdough a good activity? ›

While your kids are molding play dough into different shapes, they are actually building up strength in their tiny hands. The acts of squishing, rolling, flattening, and more help your children develop muscles used in their hands for fine motor movements useful in the future, such as holding a pencil or using scissors.

How do you make playdough fast? ›

It's easy to learn how to make homemade playdough. For this quick, kid-friend version, in a nonstick bowl, first whisk together the flour, salt, and cream of tartar. Next, add in the oil, hot water, and food coloring. Using a rubber spatula, stir it all together until a dough forms.

What is the main ingredient in playdough? ›

Play-Doh's current manufacturer, Hasbro, says the compound is primarily a mixture of water, salt, and flour, while its 2004 United States patent indicates it is composed of water, a starch-based binder, a retrogradation inhibitor, salt, lubricant, surfactant, preservative, hardener, humectant, fragrance, and color.

What is playdough ice cream? ›

Bright yellow vanilla ice cream with hot pink and blue sugar cookie gems. Children love it!

What are the ingredients of ice cream? ›

Ice cream is a frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food colouring is sometimes added in addition to stabilizers.

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